President Lee Jae Myung meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Seoul

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday and called for close communication between the two countries on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, Lee's office said.

Lee stressed that Seoul and Beijing have achieved the "complete recovery" of bilateral ties, noting his back-to-back in-person meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping last year and this year during the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae.

"I am pleased that the two governments are strengthening horizontal and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic sphere based on their political trust," Lee's office quoted him as telling Wang.

The president, in particular, called on Wang to "continue close strategic communication with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac on South Korea-China relations and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula."

Wang, in response, conveyed greetings from Xi and noted that bilateral relations are on a stable path of development.

He pledged that he will play a more active role in faithfully implementing the agreements reached between Lee and Xi ahead of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries next year.

Wang also requested Seoul's support for China's hosting of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, to which Lee pledged to provide all necessary support for its successful hosting.

Lee also asked Wang to convey his greetings to Xi.

The meeting was followed by separate talks and a luncheon between National Security Adviser Wi and Wang, during which the two officials exchanged views on bilateral relations and the security situation on the peninsula.

During the meeting, Wi outlined Seoul's efforts to build peace with North Korea and resume dialogue, as well as its approach to denuclearizing North Korea, which begins with having Pyongyang halt its nuclear program. Wi, in particular, called on China to play a "constructive role" in Seoul's pursuit of such policies.

Wang, in response, stressed the "continuity and stability" of China's policy toward the Korean Peninsula, pledging to continue playing a "constructive role" in ensuring peace and stability on the peninsula.

The two also exchanged views on the rapidly changing international security situation, agreeing that countries in the region should respect each other's positions and cooperate to expand common ground at a time when they are politically and economically intertwined, the presidential office said.

Wang also invited Wi to visit China, which the South Korean accepted, the office added.